Two-level load-platform transporting vehicle



Feb. 23; 1954 F. E. HRUZA LEVEL LOAD-PLATFORM TRANSPORTING VEHICLE TWO- Filed Dec. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l N 'INVENTOR FRANGIS E. HRUZA ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 F. E. HRUZA TWO-LEVEL LOAD-PLATFORM TRANSPORTING VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 INVENTOR' FRANCIS .E. HRUZA ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23,1954

UNIT-ED {STAT-ES aort c-E ""TWO -LEVEL LOAD-PLATFORM TRANS- -"'POR,TING VEHICLE "The present invention relates to improvements a carrier and hasfor an object the-provision of adevice of this character which is'capable of transporting m'aoliineryfrom place to p1ace-, such asgfarm machinery.

An'otherobject ofthe present invention is to provide an improved carrier having obverse' and reverse'material supporting surfaces and' means for supporting theobverse surface ataheight which is close to the ground when it is uppermost and the reverse surface at a greater height from the ground when it -is uppermost.

I A further- :object of F the -present invention is to provide an improved-device of this kiiid ih which the supporting means-serves as a fulcrum upon which the carrier: may be moved: to reverse the positions of its supporting surfaces.

A still further object of the-present invention is'-- to providean improved carrier having :side sections "or members which 1 cooper te with the obverse 4 surface of the carrier to provide ramps for loading-and unloading the machinery upon and: from the carrier and :eooperate with: the reverse surface toprovide ahayrack.

'The present'invention aims to provide ai device :of this type in which: the supporting surfaces are of open framework constructionand in which-adjustable means are provided for supporting machinery 10f various lengths within! the: overall :length .of itheisupporting surfaces.

The present invention also aimsto provide an improved carrier in whichithe supportingr means is positioned at the extreme'rear end of thezc'ar- -rierfso a maximum of clearance or free board is afiorded' for loading and ..-unloading. of articles "to be transported upon. and from the supporting surfaces.

The. present: invention contemplates theiuprovision of animproved structure=which-is'slight in man.

--With theforegoing and other-objects in view,

.the invention will 'be hereinafter: more fully'de- :tween the sides H 0..-and "has Figure 3- isa longitiidinat sectional view of the evice with the reverse surface uppermost, Figure 4- is a=sectional view-taken on the line or Figure 2,

'Figure 5 is a sectional view'taken on. the: line 5 5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 -is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of i one of the supporting means: for the side sections,

Figure 7 is a-sectional' viewitaken on the. line i-Jbf Figure 6;:and

- Figure 8' is aisectional viewtaken on the line -B 8- o'f Figure 3.

Referring more particularly :to the drawings,

' A generally indicates atsupporting :frame'which may be of substantially rectangular shape and "of iopen framework-construction. 1 The frame A may icomprise- 'para'llel' sides 510, afront crosspiece "I I,

a I rear .=crosspiece: ll 2-; an intermediate crosspiece is front stationaryrror fixed 'cross reinforcing i'braces i't, rearfstati'onary 01' fixed crossreinforc- 'ing braces -15" fanduadjustable' supporting members 16 which maybei'mountedonthesides I 0 be- "tweenrthe crosspiece 13 and the adjacent brace Tihesides l0 and the crosspieces ll, 12 andlfi imayabe made-of iron "or steel pipe-or other suitable material. "The front crosspiece ll extends besides 'ilflsand has its .iODDOSitB ends'secured as by welding or the like to the forward portions ofcthe .inner'faceszofrthe sides-10 and the intermediate :crosspiece :13: extends between the its: opposite ends secured ina similar manner to the intermediate portions of sthe"inn'er :faces of the: sides 1 ii.

The braces "I d may be of angle iron shape in 'crossse'ctionandeach has a'vertical flange I 7 and a'horizontal'flange l8. The braces M extend be- :and ahorizontal flange '28 {and extends between the sides -l0-adjacentuto.but forwardly ofthe rear crosspiece v i2. lie-opposite ends :'.of the :bracesi 5 maybe secured to the inner :faces of the :sides ll] by'we'lding or=the like.

The-braces l kmay be arranged adjacent each other andthehorizon-tal flanges may extend towards each other and. the" braces 21 5 may be arriranged m a";simil'az'fma'nner.-

f-I he:adiustabie supporting members I6 man be for fan'gle f' iren 'i's'hape inreross section and "each has awerticalfiange i i-and ahorizontai fiange 2 2.

A collar 23 is secured as by welding or the like to each end of each brace H5. The collars 23 may be substantially semi-circular in shape and engage over and are adapted to slide over the sides It. Each collar carries on its inner side a set screw 24 which is adapted to be screwed into tight frictional engagement with its side Hi to hold its brace IS firmly in its adjusted position. The inwardly extending headed end portions of its set screws 24 are housed within the space formed by the vertical and horizontal flanges of its brace It so that the set screws are protected against damage by the machinery being transported and against accidental loosening.

The rear crosspiece l2 has the forward faces of its opposite end portions secured as by welding or the like to the open rear ends of the sides in so that the entire crosspiece l2 extends rearwardly of the extreme rear end of the sides itl. length of the crosspiece l2 may be such that its opposite ends lie substantially flush with the outer faces of the sides H1.

Ground engaging or supporting wheels 25 are rotatably mounted on crank axles generally indicated at 26. Each crank axle comprises a crank arm 21 from one end of which a wheel mounting portion 28 extends outwardly and from the opposite end of which an elongated shank 29 extends inwardly. The major portion of each shank 29 is received by the adjacent end portion of the rear crosspiece l2 and has a tight fit therein to afford a substantial purchase therein. The shanks 29 may be further secured by welding 35) or the like to the crosspiece I2 to prevent relative rotation between the crank axles and the crosspiece [2.

The portion 28 of each crank axle has its outer part 3! of reduced diameter which extends through a suitable opening in a hub 32 of its wheel 25. A Washer 33 carried by the portion 23 the inner face of its wheel 25 to prevent inward movement of the wheel and the outer e. tended end portion of each part 3! is screw threaded to receive a nut 3d for preventing outward escape of the wheel 25 from the crank axle. Ball bearings 35 of the conventional type may be mounted in the opening of the hub of each wheel to assure free relative rotation between the wheels 25 and the crank axles 26.

There are two side section members or ramps 3e pivotally mounted on each side it. Each of the members 36 may be in the form of a plate of substantially rectangular shape and may be made of steel or other appropriate material. Each member 36 is disposed with its inner long side in spaced parallel relation to its adjacent side if! and has an apertured lug 3'! extending inwardly from its inner side adjacent each end thereof. The lugs 3? may be formed integral with the members 35 or they may be secured thereto by welding or the like. Cooperating pairs of apertured lugs 38 are secured to the outer face of each side It by welding or the like. A pivot rod 39 extends through the aligned apertures in each pair of lugs 38 and the cooperating lugs 31 of the adjacent member 36 for pivotally supporting each member 35 on its side it. It will be noted from Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings that there is a space All between the adjacent ends of the members 36 on each side of the frame A.

When the obverse supporting surface of the frame A, which is generally indicated as B, is uppermost as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, the members 35 will extend out- The , permost and the ramps wardly and downwardly so that the outer free edge portions of the members 36 will engage the ground 4| to serve as ramps by which machinery or the like may be loaded upon or unloaded from the obverse surface of the carrier. The surfaces 42 of the frame A of the collars 23 comprise the obverse supporting surface B.

In order to support the members 36 in the outwardly and upwardly inclined position shown in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings when the reverse supporting surface of the frame A which is generally indicated at C is uppermost, locking pins 43 are provided. Each locking pin 43 is substantially L-shaped and one leg of which is screw threaded as at 44 to be partially received by a screw threaded socket e5 formed in each of the lugs 38 to that side of the aperture therein which is closer to the obverse surface B.

A lock nut 46 is received by the threaded part of the pin 43 which extends from the socket 45. The other leg t! of the locking pin 43 constitutes a supporting leg and engages the member 38 to retain it in its upwardly and outwardly inclined position to form sides and to cooperate with the reverse supporting surface C to provide a hayrack. The surfaces 48 of the frame A comprise the reverse supporting surface.

A draft bar 49 has its rear end secured as by welding or the like to the intermediate portion of the forward face of the front crosspiece H and it extends forwardly therefrom. The forward end portion of the draft bar is vertically offset from the horizontal plane of the main body portion of the draft bar and is bifurcated to provide vertically spaced apart legs 58 having vertically aligned openings 5| for the reception of a pin by which the carrier may be hitched to a tractor or the like.

A yoke 52 has its opposite free end portions received by the forward open end portions of the sides In. The end portions of the yoke have a tight fit in the sides It to afford a substantial purchase therein and they may be secured therein by welding or the like. The intermediate portion of the yoke is received by a suitable opening in the draft bar 49 immediately to the rear of the offset forward end of the draft bar to support it at this point.

In the use of the device, assumin that it is desired to transport some machinery from one place to another the frame A will be swung on the wheels 25 as a fulcrum to the full line position illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings in which the obverse supporting surface B is up- 36 are resting on the ground 41 and the locking pins 43 may be removed or rotated out of the path of the machinery.

The machinery will then be rolled up the ramps 36 from either side of the frame and it will be noted that the obverse surface is only a relatively short distance above the ground 4] so that the vertical distance through which the machinery must be moved is small and the inclination of the ramps is slight. It will also be noted that the supporting wheels 25 will offer a minimum of obstruction to the movement of the machinery upon the frame A so that a maximum of clearance or free board is afforded for the loading or unloading of the carrier and for the receiving and supporting the material to be transported. This is made possible by location of the rear crosspiece I2 which supports the wheels rearwardly of the rear end of the sides In. a In order to more adequately support machinery of different length the members It may be adjusted along the sides H) by loosening the set screws 24 and sliding the collars 23 along the sides I to the desired location. The set screws 24 will then be tightened against the sides Hi to hold the members l6 in their newly adjusted positions. When the machinery has been loaded upon the frame A, the ramps 36 may be swung up to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 against the opposite sides of the machinery 53 shown in phantom lines.

When it is desired to use the carrier as a hayrack or for hauling feed, the draft bar 49 is unhitched and the frame A will be swung from the full line position shown in Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows through the dotted line positions shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the full line position illustrated in Figure 3 in which the reverse supporting surface C is uppermost. This movement may be effected by one man as the wheels 25 will support the frame A and the bearings 3| in the hubs 32 of the wheels 25 will serve as pivots on which the parts 3| of the crank axles will rotate. The frame A will now be at a much greater height above the ground 4|. Boards 54 may be placed longitudinally upon the crosspieces and braces to form a floor.

The sections 36 may be supported in the outwardly and upwardly inclined position shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings by loosening the lock nuts 46 and rotatin the locking pins 43 until the legs 41 thereof engage the underface of the sections 36. The lock nuts 49 are then tightened to hold the pins 43 in their supporting position.

The locating of the mounting for the supporting wheels 25 at the extreme rear end of the frame permits the frame to be swung about on the hubs of the wheels as fulcrums through substantially 180 degrees to its two positions of use without the rear end of the frame striking the ground and without the necessity of raising the wheels or the frame.

When the frame is in its lowermost position the offset hitching portion of the draft bar is offset upwardly and when the frame is in its uppermost position the offset hitching portion of the draft bar is offset downwardly so that when hitched to a vehicle the level horizontal plane of the supporting surface will be maintained as nearly level as possible.

The carrier is sides I 0 and the crosspieces II, I 2 and I3 may be made of pipe having a diameter of 4 inches. The length of the frame may be about 18 feet and the width 4 feet. Each ramp 36 may be made of steel plate 4 inch thick, about 8 feet long and 1 feed wide. When the obverse supporting surface is uppermost the frame A will clear the ground by about five inches and when the reverse supporting surface is uppermost the frame A will clear the ground by about two feet. These clearances may be altered by changing the length of the crank arms 2 It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A carrier comprising a reversible frame having an obverse material supporting surface and a reverse material supporting surface, means supporting said frame during movements of translation and serving as supporting fulcrums for the frame when the frame is bein reversed to bring its obverse and reverse surfaces selectively uppermost and to low and high elevations with respect to the ground, said means comprising a pair of crank axles each having a shank fixedly carried by the frame and a bearing portion, a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted upon the bearing portion of each axle the shank of each axle being eccentric to its bearing portion, the upper face of at least the low elevation supporting surface being unobstructed throughout substantially the entire length of the frame and disposed in substantially one plane and said wheels being disposed adjacent one end portion of the frame so that there is provided an unobstructed free board throughout substantially the entire length of the frame to permit side loading of the material to be transported upon said low elevation supporting surface.

2. A carrier comprising a reversible frame having an obverse material supporting surface and a reverse material supporting surface, means supporting said frame during movements of translation and serving as supporting fulcrums for the frame when the frame is being reversed to bring its obverse and reverse surfaces selectively uppermost and to low and high elevations with respect to the ground, said means comprising an axle having a part fixedly carried by the trailing shank and bearing portions References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 276,734 Turner May 1, 1883 1,857,784 Kuester May 10, 1932 2,173,525 Wallace Sept. 19, 1939 2,196,338 McDaniel Apr. 9, 1940 2,256,038 Woodrufl Sept. 16, 1941 2,365,884 Kucera Dec. 26, 1944 2,370,427 Sherry Feb. 27, 1945 2,536,561 Mickam Jan. 2, 1951 

